Where is the line between arrogance and confidence?

[NicoleScraps]

So I have been trying to fix up my website so that I can refer people to look at it. I am trying to get as many practice sessions as possible and want people to feel like it would not be a complete waste of their time. The text pages kind of got put on the back burner for a couple of weeks due to computer and kid problems. Anyways, I have been browsing other photographers websites to see what kind of information is typically in the "about me" and "service" pages. I ran across one today that just floored me. It was actually a myspace page that she used to promote herself, which that in itself should have told me to keep moving on. but it was like the train wreck effect, I just had to look.
She went on and on in some detail about how she had an excellent eye for photography and was able to edit each photo into a master piece. If I were a potential customer, this would have turned me off immediately. In general, I do not get along well with overly arrogant people. So I thought "Okay lady, let's see if you have to goods to back up all of your smack talk."
Yeah, her photos sucked the big one. All of them were just a little bit out of focus and so overly processed that they looked ridiculous.

I am kind of seeing this as a trend as I search websites. There are a lot of really bad photographers out there who call themselves professional and just have an overall sense of arrogance on their websites.

I do not want to do that with mine. I want to convey that I have some confidence in my abilities, but I want to remain humble in my wording. Does that make sense?
Any help or suggestions here? Eek, this is hard. Do you care if I take a peek at some of your websites to see what you have written (not to plagerize, just to gather ideas)? Link me up to your site if you'd like to share. Thanks so much!

[sk66]

To me, confidence is a behavior it "speaks for itself"...Arrogance is talking.

You can convey confidence in your speech but it is better not to; often it will be mistaken for arrogance.

I don't have a site for you to review, but the ones that convey confidence to me are the ones that say very little and let the work speak for them.

I hate labels.

"Amateur" vs. "Professional".... hell, even the label "photographer" gets in my craw most days.

Just my $.02

The work speaks for itself, regardless off what is flapping out of the persons mouth.

~Eric

[candidrachel]

IMO Arrogance = Boastfulness. True confidence comes from deep within your soul. Confidence is self-belief. I don't need to boast and brag to all and sundry that I can cook a healthy nutricious meal for my family for example.

I've met confident people who may not be the best in their chosen professions but they are warm, friendy, modest and have that authentic feel and live a charmed life.

Personally, I cannot stand arrogant people. They get my heckles up. Also people who boast and brag and think they are so much better than everyone else when really and truly when you cut to the chase they suffer from low self esteem and have to big themselves up to make THEMSELVES feel better.

[FallsCity]

Originally Posted by NicoleScraps

I do not want to do that with mine. I want to convey that I have some confidence in my abilities, but I want to remain humble in my wording. Does that make sense?

I think you have the right attitude. I cannot stand arrogant people myself. You have to let your pictures do the talking and the public will decide for themselves.

A good analogy is in sports, I was always taught to never show up your opponent and to 'act like you've been there before'.

[Jim Bryant]

There are a lot of bad photographers who think they are professional. Confidence is not only believing in yourself, but constantly producing good pictures as well. In this business I've met way too many arrogant photographers to last a lifetime. You're only good as your last picture. Be my guess you can take a look see at mine. I'm about as arrogant as you can get.

[Crossfire905]

"Confidence" means you know you can do it. "Arrogance" is loudly insisting that you can do it better than anyone else.

[Jim Bryant]

I like that reply and have to remember the one about "Arrogance" to use on some of those photographers along the sidelines of life.

[zona5101]

you could always set the bar low and say "i suck" then if you do nice work
it's the ol under-promise over-deliver methodology.
But !bonus!, if you really do suck, then no one can say you didn't warn 'em!!

now, where's that darn sign... oh, here it is:

[Photologyst]

I don’t think that you have to worry, Nicole.

Just list your skills and experience honestly and as completely as you desire, like a resume. Your photos will be the proof of the pudding.

There is something to appeal to someone in whatever “art.”

I am a fine-art painter in another life. Anyone can learn the skill of painting, but to make a lasting piece of art is something entirely different. I will never forget seeing a huge, totally blank, white canvas in an LA museum. I kept looking for the “dot” or something. . . Nope! Just a white canvas. People were walking around that thing slack-jawed, shaking their heads.

In the digital age, “everyone” believes that they are a “professional” photographer. It’s like a trainer once told me about different types exercise. If you ride a horse, the horse gets the exertion credit.


It is the public that decides who is a “master” regardless of what the critics or the curators say.